Cargo restraint system for joint modular intermodal containers

Abstract

A cargo restraint assembly for a cargo handling system is provided. The cargo restraint assembly includes a base assembly. The base assembly includes a plunger, a compression spring, and an attenuation lock. Responsive to being activated, the plunger is configured to extend in a first direction into an opening within a modular container thereby restraining the modular container in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction. The compression spring provides a restraint to keep the plunger locked in an outwardly extended state in an activated state or locked in an inwardly retracted state in a deactivated state. The attenuation lock is configured to block the plunger from attenuating from the activated state unless acted upon by an actuation/de-actuation lever.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cargo restraint assembly for a cargo handling system, comprising:
 a base assembly comprising:   a plunger, wherein, responsive to being activated, the plunger is configured to extend in a first direction into an opening within a modular container thereby restraining the modular container in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction;   a compression spring, wherein the compression spring is configured to provide a restraint to keep the plunger locked in an outwardly extended state in an activated state or locked in an inwardly retracted state in a deactivated state; and   an attenuation lock, wherein the attenuation lock is configured to block the plunger from attenuating from the activated state unless acted upon by an actuation/de-actuation lever.   
     
     
         2 . The cargo restraint assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base assembly further comprises:
 the actuation/de-actuation lever, wherein the actuation/de-actuation lever is mechanically and rotatably coupled to the base assembly via a rotation pin and wherein the actuation/de-actuation lever is configured to rotate about axis through a longitudinal center of the rotation pin.   
     
     
         3 . The cargo restraint assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the base assembly further comprises:
 a first linkage;   a second linkage; and   a plunger interconnect plate, wherein the actuation/de-actuation lever is coupled to the plunger via the first linkage, the second linkage, and the plunger interconnect plate.   
     
     
         4 . The cargo restraint assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the actuation/de-actuation lever is coupled to a first end of the first linkage via the rotation pin such that the first linkage rotates simultaneously with the actuation/de-actuation lever. 
     
     
         5 . The cargo restraint assembly of  claim 4 , wherein a second end of the first linkage is mechanically and rotatably coupled to a first end of the second linkage via a first pin, wherein a second end of the second linkage is mechanically and rotatably coupled to the plunger interconnect plate via a second pin, and wherein the plunger interconnect plate is coupled to the plunger. 
     
     
         6 . The cargo restraint assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the mechanical and rotatable coupling between the second end of the first linkage and the first end of the second linkage is configured to move over a center line thereby providing an over-center locking mechanism that locks the plunger at an outermost extension in the first direction from the base assembly into the opening within the modular container. 
     
     
         7 . The cargo restraint assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the compression spring provides the restraint to keep the second end of the first linkage that is mechanically and rotatably coupled to the first end of the second linkage moved over a center line in the activated state and to keep the second end of the first linkage that is mechanically and rotatably coupled to the first end of the second linkage retracted in the deactivated state. 
     
     
         8 . The cargo restraint assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cargo restraint assembly is a first cargo restraint assembly and wherein the base assembly further comprises:
 an interface, wherein the interface is configured to receive an actuation shaft/tube that couples the first cargo restraint assembly to a second cargo restraint assembly in order that the first cargo restraint assembly and the second cargo restraint assembly are activated or deactivated simultaneously.   
     
     
         9 . The cargo restraint assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base assembly further comprises:
 a set of anchors integrated into the cargo restraint assembly, wherein the set of anchors couple the cargo restraint assembly to a cargo deck of a cargo compartment.   
     
     
         10 . A cargo handling system, comprising:
 a plurality of cargo restraint assemblies, each cargo restraint assembly of the plurality of cargo restraint assemblies comprising:   a base assembly comprising:
 a plunger, wherein, responsive to being activated, the plunger is configured to extend in a first direction into an opening within a modular container thereby restraining the modular container in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction; 
 a compression spring, wherein the compression spring is configured to provide a restraint to keep the plunger locked in an outwardly extended state in an activated state or locked in an inwardly retracted state in a deactivated state; and 
 an attenuation lock, wherein the attenuation lock is configured to block the plunger from attenuating from the activated state unless acted upon by an actuation/de-actuation lever. 
   
     
     
         11 . The cargo handling system of  claim 10 , wherein the base assembly further comprises:
 the actuation/de-actuation lever, wherein the actuation/de-actuation lever is mechanically and rotatably coupled to the base assembly via a rotation pin and wherein the actuation/de-actuation lever is configured to rotate about axis through a longitudinal center of the rotation pin.   
     
     
         12 . The cargo handling system of  claim 11 , wherein the base assembly further comprises:
 a first linkage;   a second linkage; and   a plunger interconnect plate, wherein the actuation/de-actuation lever is coupled to the plunger via the first linkage, the second linkage, and the plunger interconnect plate.   
     
     
         13 . The cargo handling system of  claim 12 , wherein the actuation/de-actuation lever is coupled to a first end of the first linkage via the rotation pin such that the first linkage rotates simultaneously with the actuation/de-actuation lever. 
     
     
         14 . The cargo handling system of  claim 13 , wherein a second end of the first linkage is mechanically and rotatably coupled to a first end of the second linkage via a first pin, wherein a second end of the second linkage is mechanically and rotatably coupled to the plunger interconnect plate via a second pin, and wherein the plunger interconnect plate is coupled to the plunger. 
     
     
         15 . The cargo handling system of  claim 14 , wherein the mechanical and rotatable coupling between the second end of the first linkage and the first end of the second linkage is configured to move over a center line thereby providing an over-center locking mechanism that locks the plunger at an outermost extension in the first direction from the base assembly into the opening within the modular container. 
     
     
         16 . The cargo handling system of  claim 12 , wherein the compression spring provides the restraint to keep the second end of the first linkage that is mechanically and rotatably coupled to the first end of the second linkage moved over a center line in the activated state and to keep the second end of the first linkage that is mechanically and rotatably coupled to the first end of the second linkage retracted in the deactivated state. 
     
     
         17 . The cargo handling system of  claim 10 , wherein the cargo restraint assembly is a first cargo restraint assembly and wherein the base assembly further comprises:
 an interface, wherein the interface is configured to receive an actuation shaft/tube that couples the first cargo restraint assembly to a second cargo restraint assembly in order that the first cargo restraint assembly and the second cargo restraint assembly are activated or deactivated simultaneously.   
     
     
         18 . The cargo handling system of  claim 10 , wherein the base assembly further comprises:
 a set of anchors integrated into the cargo restraint assembly, wherein the set of anchors couple the cargo restraint assembly to a cargo deck of a cargo compartment.   
     
     
         19 . An aircraft, comprising:
 a cargo deck; and   a cargo handling system disposed on the cargo deck, the cargo handling system comprising:
 a plurality of cargo restraint assemblies, each cargo restraint assembly of the plurality of cargo restraint assemblies comprising: 
 a base assembly comprising:
 a plunger, wherein, responsive to being activated, the plunger is configured to extend in a first direction into an opening within a modular container thereby restraining the modular container in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction; 
 a compression spring, wherein the compression spring is configured to provide a restraint to keep the plunger locked in an outwardly extended state in an activated state or locked in an inwardly retracted state in a deactivated state; and 
 an attenuation lock, wherein the attenuation lock is configured to block the plunger from attenuating from the activated state unless acted upon by an actuation/de-actuation lever. 
 
   
     
     
         20 . The aircraft of  claim 19 , wherein each cargo restraint assembly of the plurality of cargo restraint assemblies further comprises:
 an interface, wherein the interface is configured to receive an actuation shaft/tube that couples a first cargo restraint assembly of the plurality of cargo restraint assemblies to a second cargo restraint assembly of the plurality of cargo restraint assemblies in order that the first cargo restraint assembly and the second cargo restraint assembly are activated or deactivated simultaneously.